Giant loaches fighting

[ckk125]

I have 2 11 inch clown loaches, and recently, they started fighting..

There are lots of scars and torn fins because of this

And when they click, even tiger loaches couldn't make a louder click. it is like my aquarium is cracking.

Any suggestions on how to end it?They are both identical in terms of size..

[Martin Thoene]

Quite often changing decor around may give them something else to think about. It's a kind of diversionary tactic. What you're seeing is a trial of strength for dominance. It's an inevitability in a group of Clowns and sometimes they can do one another some damage.

Once the due process has happened and someone becomes the winner they usually settle down again. In well-fed, healthy fish with good clean water conditions most damage will usually heal quickly.

Martin.

[Tinman]

Rainy season and breeding season ? Seems they might want more space when the rainy season naturally would have them spread out among the shallows due to visibility and more area available . Could they be or are they territorial for space with breeding in mind? Ckk125 would have loaches of breeding size here and together as opposed to most of the rest of us. Could this be a problem with an addition of two more or an asset ? I am implying mood and space requirements during certain times of the year may be showing themselves in these mature and aquarium kept fish. This is very intresting to ponder. Could a female want a nest area or a male want the competition somewhere else?Do we know how they would and do act naturally this time of year or is it a mystery still? I understand some have had beat-downs in their tanks also that sorted rather quickly.

[Emma Turner]

At a guess, I would say most of ckk's big loaches are males. They do not seem to have the sheer height and girth that the females possess at that size. I would therefore be inclined that these arguments are the largest fish vying for the alpha position. This often happens when you have more than one fish that is the same large size, and things do usually settle down after a time. Marge & Stripes can be best of friends one minute, then suddenly start fighting like mad. Then a while after that, they are friends again. (And I should add they are friendly most of the time).

Emma